The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1887-06-23

from g careful examination Oh the
law, and for the present st least, the
old flags will remain where they are.
A great cry comes up from certain
Northern quarters, though, Of ''rebel-
lion," "treason," and great protest is
made against returning these flags.
Surely the war is over, and the re.
turn of these old flags could do no
possible harm. They belong to the
victors, however, and they have
right to them. In speaking Of the
order to return these flags Gen. Fair
child, of the G. A. R., says:
"May God palsy the hand that
wrote the order, and may God palsy
the brain that conceived it, and
may God palsy the tongue that die
tated it,
This is indeed strong language.
e.further says no loyal Governor
of any State in this Union would re.
ceive them, and speaks of them as
emblems of treason.
We think no loyal Governor OF
any State in this Union whose sons
once bore these old flags aloft in the
heat of battle, and whose blood was
shed for principles they conceived to
be right, would refuse to receive them
Yes, and place them in safe keeping
and cherish the memory of the noble
sons Of the South who fought in this
strife. Preserve these flags and the
history connected with them; but not
to stir anew a desire for war or dis
union. The questions for which the
South fought have been decided on
the field of carnage, and we are back
in the Union, and we are there to
stay. But We can never be made be-
lieve that those brave men who
fought on the Southern side in the
late civil strife were traitors, and
that their memories are unworthy tc
be cherished and reyered.
If that is what the New South
idea means, then away with any such
notions,
We are now at peace and we want
to remain so. The Union is no longer
divided and ne hope never again te
to see o division nor civil war
But we hope to see the rising gene
ration of this beautiful Southland
cherish in proper remembrance the
! memory of those who gave up theil
lives on the field of battle in a cause
| which they conceived to be just
They were overpowered by the force
of arms and submitted gracefully,
and return of these flags or the re-
tention of them where they are viii
never change the reverence in which
those who fell in battle are held by
their descendants in the South. I.
the flags were returned they woulc
be carefully preserved and their his
tory perpetuated. AS for rebellion
that is dead issue now. After all
no doubt it is best that the old Con
federate flags should remain where
they are. The South is a part o.
that nation in whose custody they
are. The South wants peace. The
return of the flags could not make
her think any more of those who
bore them in the heat Of battle thar
she does now. Governor Gordon
expresses the true Southern senti
ment when he says: 1--WE want
peace and good will, and prefer these
even to the return of cherished relics
if their return is to be made at such
COST" Gov. Lee, of Virginia, in
speaking of this matter says:
"The proposed return of the South
ern battle flags did not originate with
Southern soldiers. While they would
have accepted again their banners,
bathed in the blood of brave com
rades, they recognized that flags cap
tured in battle are the property OF
the victors and were content to let
them remain in their charge. Flags
captured from Northern troops by
Southern soldiers have been returned
and in some cases with ceremonies" d"
'The country should not again be
agitated by pieces of bunting that
mean nothing now. The South is
part and parcel of the Union to-day,
and means to do her part towards in
creasing the prosperity and main
tanning the peace of the Republic,
whether the flags rot in Washington
or are restored to their former custo.
dians. If any man hauls down the
American flag, shoot him on the spot,
but do not let US get into trouble be-
cause any flag simply changes its
resting place. 1t will not 60 into
the hands of standard-bearer."
ENLARGING MOUNT VERNON.